What are gerbera flowers - how they look and how they grow

Gerbera flowers have become popular in European countries relatively recently - at the end of the 19th century. Today gerbera is loved and actively planted in many countries.

It is not enough to find out how and where gerberas grow in nature, you also need to get acquainted with the history of flower culture. Not many people know, but the name "gerbera" today is by ear, thanks to the famous botanist Jan Gronovius, who lived in the 18th century. With his submission, the flower began to be named in honor of his good friend - Traugott Gerber.

Gerberas are simply amazing in their diversity.

There is another theory - the name of the plant has Latin roots and comes from the word “herba” (grass).

Gerbera flower is a perennial plant, which belongs to the family Aster. This perennial is quite thermophilic, because as a garden flower in open ground, it can be safely planted only in hot countries. If we talk about temperate latitudes, here the gerbera is most often cultivated in greenhouses or planted in a pot, like a beautiful home indoor flower.

The plant has a very developed root system. The stem is rather short, with a rosette of roots having a light green color. Peduncle rather tall and pubescent. Gerbera flower most of all resembles a very large daisy, the color of which can be very diverse (almost any shade, except for blue). Depending on the particular variety, the fact is what exactly the gerbera flowers look like.

They can be:

• terry;
• semi-double;
• simple.

The size of the plant varies from 25 to 60 centimeters, the size of the inflorescence is from 4 to 15 centimeters.

Speaking of what gerberas are, their varieties should be considered in more detail. About 80 varieties of gerbera are found in nature. Most of them come from South Africa and Madagascar.

Terry gerberas look very original and stylish

Almost any modern gerbera is a hybrid adapted for growing at home or in greenhouses. For cultivation on window sills, flower beds and in Russian gardens, the following varieties are optimal.

Gerber Jameson

In the case of Jameson's gerbera, seed cultivation can be carried out. She is the ancestor of a large number of hybrid forms.

Gerber Jameson is a perennial shrub with slightly raised cirrus leaves collected in sockets. Peduncle thick enough. The diameter of the inflorescence is about 10 cm. Flowering continues for three weeks. The main feature of the Jameson variety is its bright colors.

Gerbera Klondike

Gerbera Klondike is a popular hybrid variety. The plant is quite high - about 45 cm. Care for it is minimal, but the gerbera will bloom from July to October, during the season it will give about 50 flowers up to 11-12 cm in diameter.

Gerbera Abyssinian

The Abyssinian variety is a perennial growing to 45 cm. The leaves are elliptical and are formed into a basal rosette. With a plate length of just over 20 cm and a width of up to 14 cm, they have wavy or finely serrated notched edges. When the leaf is very young, it is covered with a light, barely noticeable fluff. Inflorescences are apical, single, white or with a reddish tinge.

Gerbera Mini

Those who love beautiful home-made vibrant gerbera flowers are advised to pay attention to Mini gerberas. This is the smallest and most compact variety, growing up to a maximum of 30 cm in height. The description of the flower is approximately the following: small inflorescences painted in yellow, orange or red saturated colors. The Mini variety is highly regarded for its decorative effect. The view looks great as a single planting and in combination with other flower crops.

Mini gerberas differ from other varieties only in the size of inflorescences

Gerberas as an annual or perennial planted primarily due to their amazing colors.

Types of flowers

Depending on the color, there are yellow, white, red, pink and orange gerberas. Recently, a hybrid option has been particularly in demand - variegated flowers or crops with a shade of petals that varies in length.

Flower shapes

Depending on the shape of the petals, gerberas are widespread - medium, and narrow-veined. The flower has the shape of a basket, which is made up of two types of flowers. The central part is small tubular-type flowers, the edges are framed by false-lingual flowers.

Flowering period

Gerbera is a kind of symbol, personifying bright colors and rich colors of summer. The first period, when the plant continues to bloom, if proper conditions are created for it, or the climate allows it, lasts from July to November. After this comes a period of rest. It is of great importance - in winter the plant gains strength for new flowering. A new flowering period begins in February and ends in May. From May to July, the culture re-enters the dormant period.

In nature, there are many flowers that look like gerberas.

Most often, the following flower cultures are confused with them:

• Rudbeckia. Rudbeckia flowers are as large as gerberas. The color is most often bright yellow, with a diameter of 15 cm. The difference lies in the core of the flower - in Rudbeckia it is slightly convex, brown.
• Chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemum is also a frequent visitor to Russian horticultural sites. Like a gerbera, it can be any color except blue. Caring for a chrysanthemum is very simple, the culture just gets along well in a temperate climate.
• Pyrethrum. Pyrethrum - another flower resembling a gerbera. Its petals are white, lilac, yellow, raspberry or dark cherry. The difference from the described plant is both in the height of the feverfew - it grows up to 60 cm, and in the ease of care. In addition, feverfew grows well in cold climates.
• Calendula. Calendula, or, as the plant is also popularly called, marigolds, is another close relative of gerberas. The plant has an orange or bright yellow color. Moreover, calendula is a very interesting flower, its flowers have not only decorative value, but also healing. They represent a very valuable raw material for pharmaceuticals.
• Gatzania. Gatzania is from the South African region. She recalls Gerbera in all respects: the color, size, color of the leaves, the shape of the buds and flowers. The main difference is the presence of small specks at the base of the petals, somewhat reminiscent of the coloring of peacock feathers.

Not being a specialist, confusing gatsaniyu with a gerbera is easy

This plant is cultivated both as a perennial and as an annual. Ganation is unpretentious. The culture grows well on sandy and rather poor soils and can do without watering for a long period.

Some superstitions, facts, and legends are associated with gerberas.

Here are some of them:

1. Flowers can retain freshness in water, when cut, for at least 20 days. In this case, a minimal amount should be poured into the vase in order to prevent stems from decaying.
2. Breeders, despite all efforts, to date have not been able to create a variety of blue gerbera.
3. In terms of sales, the flower ranks fifth in the world. Only roses, tulips, carnations and chrysanthemums managed to get ahead of him.
4. The English call the flower a Transvaal daisy.
5. In total there are more than 1000 varieties of culture, including hybrid varieties.
6. On the flag and coat of arms of the South African province of Mpulanga there is an image of a gerbera.
7. In the language of flowers, a gerbera symbolizes secret, modesty, or flirting.

Currently, you can find gerberas in the widest range in almost any florist shop. Despite the initial pickiness of the flower, many interesting varieties have been created that can be grown in open ground not in the warmest regions. As a result, everyone was able to enjoy the beauty of this amazing plant. Flower seeds can also be bought without problems.

Watch the video: Cultivation - Life Cycle of Gerbera Flower (May 2024).